Hockey 101

Know the Game

Hockey is the fastest contact sport in the world and one of the easiest to understand. Once you have learned three basic rules you will be on your way to understanding one of the most exciting games in the world. They are offside, offside (two-line) pass and icing the puck. These three rules are designed to encourage teamwork, increase puck handling and maintain the speed of the game.

Each team has six players on the ice at a time (unless someone has been placed in the penalty box). Substitutions can be made when play has stopped or they can be made "on the fly" while play is going on. The six positions are goaltender, left and right defense, center, left and right wing.

A goal is scored when one of the players shoots the puck into the opponent’s goal with their stick. Players who help set up the goal are awarded assists, but only two assists can be scored with each goal.

Games are played in three periods of 20 minutes. The clock only runs during play. If games are tied after 60 minutes, a 5-minute sudden death period is played. The first team to score in sudden death wins the game. If this period ends in a tie, the teams will compete in a shoot out. Each team selects 5 players to go against the goaltender in a 1 on 1 breakaway. The team who scores the most goals in the five attempts receives two points for a win while the other team receives one point in the overtime points (OTP) column in the league standings.